RKA Petroleum Companies

What RKA Petroleum Companies does

RKA Petroleum Companies, Inc. is a third-generation, family-owned fuel distribution and logistics company headquartered in Romulus, Michigan, operating since 1956 and serving Southeastern Michigan and Northwestern Ohio with extended reach to 29 states through 200+ carrier relationships. The company distributes refined fuels (gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, biodiesel, ethanol blends, and DEF) to gas stations under major brands (Citgo, Marathon, Sunoco, BP, ARCO, Amoco), commercial fleets, government agencies (including the U.S. Department of Defense), construction, landscaping, marine, locomotive, emergency services, and other industrial customers via a fleet of 30+ trucks and tankwagons operating 24/7.

Its core differentiator is the Fuel Management Program (FMP), the first of its kind in Michigan, which combines cellular-connected tank monitoring hardware with back-office automation to provide automatic order replenishment, IFTA reporting, and 24/7 online data access to over 500 enrolled customers. Supporting offerings include fleet fueling with barcode scanning, emergency fuel delivery, alternative fuels, DEF, tank cleaning, and lubricants (Mobil-branded products added through a February 2024 strategic partnership with Vesco Oil). RKA is also a WBENC-certified Women's Business Enterprise since 2012, a credential that supports its government and corporate procurement pipeline.

RKA makes money primarily through transaction-based fuel distribution (pass-through gallons of gasoline, diesel, and alternative fuels), supplemented by recurring service revenue from the FMP subscription-like offering, professional services (tank cleaning, logistics), managed fleet-filling services, and lubricant sales. Pricing is quote-based and indexed to OPIS, PLATTS, ARGUS, and NYMEX benchmarks with both fixed and variable structures, and the company goes to market through enterprise field sales, dedicated government and commercial account executives, and an emerging digital channel anchored by the rka.com customer portal and fuel calculator. Recent strategic activity includes a new Westland maintenance facility with adjacent land acquisition (May 2023) and the Mobil Lubricants partnership (February 2024).

Name

RKA Petroleum Companies

Legal name

RKA Petroleum Companies, Inc.

Website

https://rka.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1956

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

RKA Petroleum Companies is a third-generation, family-owned fuel distributor founded in 1956, serving gas stations, commercial fleets, and government agencies across Michigan, Ohio, and 29 states with bulk fuel delivery, fleet fueling, tank monitoring, and lubricants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Petroleum Distribution & Logistics

NAICS

Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals (424710), Fuel Dealers (45721)

SIC

Wholesale-Petroleum Bulk Stations & Terminals (5171)

akta.pro primary industry

Commercial & Fleet Fueling (Cardlock, On-Site Tanks, Bulk Delivery) (EUALAIAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Branded Fuels Wholesaling & Jobber Distribution (EUALAIAB), Biofuel Distribution & Fuel Marketing (Wholesale/Retail) (EUAAAHAI)

Keywords

• Fuel distribution services
• Commercial fueling solutions
• Petroleum logistics services
• Gas station supply programs
• Fleet fueling programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Romulus

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Fuel Distribution: Core revenue stream from distributing refined fuels including gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and alternative fuels to commercial, government, and retail customers. Deliveries made via company-owned fleet of 30+ trucks operating 24/7 in Michigan and Ohio.
2. Lubricants Sales: Sale of Mobil lubricants including Mobil 1, Mobil Super, Mobil Delvac 1, and Mobil Delvac through strategic partnership with Vesco Oil. Products available in quart, drum, and bulk quantities.
3. Fuel Management Program Services: SaaS-like recurring revenue from the Fuel Management Program with over 500 customers enrolled. Hardware and software monitoring service for automated fuel replenishment.
4. Tank Cleaning Services: Fuel tank and generator tank cleaning maintenance services including inspection and cleaning for diesel, gasoline, and generator fuel tanks.
5. Fleet and Transportation Services: Transportation and logistics services including unit/fleet filling, skid tanks, and Keep Fill Program for scheduling fuel deliveries.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

RKA Petroleum Companies distributes refined and renewable fuels — gasoline, diesel (on-road, off-road, biodiesel), jet fuel, alternative fuels, and Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) — alongside lubricants (Mobil line) to commercial, government, and retail gas station customers in Michigan, Ohio, and 29 states. Core operations center on a 30+ truck owned fleet delivering 24/7, complemented by the proprietary Fuel Management Program (FMP) that automates tank monitoring and replenishment for over 500 enrolled customers, plus fleet fueling, emergency fuel, logistics, and tank cleaning services.

Product overview

RKA Petroleum Companies operates as a fuel distribution company offering a portfolio of interconnected products and services. The core offerings include commercial fuel distribution with bulk delivery and on-site tank solutions, retail gas station branding/supply programs, and fleet fueling services. The Fuel Management Program (FMP) serves as the company's flagship technology product, combining cellular-connected tank monitoring hardware with automated replenishment software. Supporting services include emergency fuel delivery, logistics management, tank cleaning, and alternative fuel products (biodiesel, ethanol blends, DEF). A 2024 partnership added Mobil Lubricants to the portfolio. RKA operates over 30 trucks delivering across Michigan and Ohio, serving diverse industries including construction, landscaping, government, transportation, marine, and waste management.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Commercial Fuel Distribution Bulk fuel delivery directly into customer tanks, on-site permanent or temporary fuel tanks, and individual unit fueling for equipment, tractors, and reefers serving government, marine, education, landscaping, construction, automotive, transportation, and other industries.
• Retail Gas Station Solutions Programs for gas station branding and supply under Citgo, Marathon, Sunoco, BP, ARCO, and Amoco brands, offering gasoline, diesel (on-road, off-road, biodiesel), DEF, supply contracts, tank monitoring, 24/7 ordering, competitive pricing, and station improvement financing for single stores, small chains, or large corporations.
• Fuel Management Program (FMP) Proprietary combination of hardware (cellular-connected device installed on above-ground storage tanks) and back-office software automation that submits inventory data wirelessly to RKA corporate headquarters for demand pattern analysis and automatic order replenishment. Enrolled customers receive 24/7/365 online data access with email and text alerts at low and critical low levels.
• Fleet Fueling On-site fuel delivery service where RKA brings trucks directly to customer equipment and vehicles, eliminating the need for on-site tanks and reducing environmental liability from underground storage. Includes barcode scanning for per-vehicle gallon tracking and IFTA (International Fuel Tax Agreement) report generation.
• Emergency Fuel Delivery Round-the-clock emergency fuel delivery service providing gasoline, diesel, DEF, and biodiesel to business-critical industries during natural disasters, power outages, and pipeline shutdowns, with priority access to mission-critical fleets including police, fire, ambulance, and disaster response.
• Logistics Services Fuel delivery logistics solutions including unit/fleet filling with barcode scanning and IFTA reporting, tank monitoring, skid tanks, and email ordering available 24/7, with the Keep Fill Program enabling customers to choose their fuel delivery days for automated monitoring and replenishment.
• Mobil Lubricants High-performance Mobil lubricant products — Mobil 1 synthetic motor oil, Mobil Super conventional motor oil, Mobil Delvac 1 heavy-duty synthetic diesel oil, and Mobil Delvac multipurpose diesel engine oil — available in quart, drum, and bulk quantities through RKA's strategic partnership with Vesco Oil.
• Alternative Fuels Bio-diesel and ethanol products including B2, B5, B10, B20, B99, B100 blends, straight ethanol, E85, and ethanol-blended gasoline for environmentally conscious fueling needs.
• Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) High purity automotive grade DEF solution containing 32.5% urea and 67.5% de-ionized water used in selective catalytic reduction (SCR) control systems on diesel vehicles to reduce NOx emissions.
• Tank Cleaning Services Fuel tank and generator tank cleaning services to maintain fuel integrity, prevent emergency breakdowns, extend equipment life, and ensure compliance with inspection requirements, including inspection and cleaning for diesel, gasoline, and generator fuel tanks.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 500 customers enrolled in Fuel Management Program
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Vesco OilcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 February 2024Strategic partnership with Vesco Oil to offer Mobil Lubricants. Two WBENC companies working together to provide solutions for customers. High performance Mobil products available for all engine types and sizes. Delivery options include quart, drum, and bulk quantities. Product line includes Mobil 1, Mobil Super, Mobil Delvac 1, and Mobil Delvac.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Mansfield Energy: Mansfield Energy is a national commercial fuel distributor providing bulk fuel delivery, fleet fueling, and fuel management services across the U.S. Both companies compete directly in commercial and government fleet fuel programs with similar service portfolios including on-site delivery and tank monitoring.
• SC Fuels: SC Fuels is a regional commercial fuel distributor serving fleets, government, and retail customers in the western U.S. with a similar portfolio of bulk delivery, DEF, lubricants, and fuel management services. Highly comparable mid-market fuel distribution model.
• MFA Oil Company: MFA Oil is a farmer-owned cooperative distributing fuel, propane, and lubricants across the Midwest. RKA's commercial fuel, propane-adjacent logistics, and lubricants segments overlap with MFA's wholesale fuel and farm fuel distribution business.

Broad incumbents

• Pilot Travel Centers (Pilot Flying J): Pilot Flying J is one of the largest operators of travel centers and fuel distributors in North America. While substantially larger, it competes in commercial fleet fueling, branded fuel supply, and loyalty programs that overlap with RKA's gas station and fleet segments.
• World Fuel Services: World Fuel Services is a global fuel marketing and energy services company serving aviation, marine, and land transportation. RKA's commercial, marine, and locomotive segments overlap with World Fuel's land transportation business and wholesale fuel distribution model.
• Global Partners: Global Partners is a Northeast-focused fuel distribution and retail company operating gas stations and terminals. RKA's gas-station supply and wholesale distribution segments overlap with Global Partners' wholesale fuel and station operations model.
• Sunoco LP: Sunoco LP is one of the largest wholesale fuel distributors in the U.S., supplying motor fuels to dealers and operators. RKA distributes Sunoco-branded fuel to its station network, putting them in a supplier-partner relationship while also competing indirectly for branded fuel supply deals.
• CITGO Petroleum: CITGO is a major U.S. refiner and branded fuel marketer with a large network of branded gas stations. RKA supplies CITGO-branded fuel to its gas station customers, making CITGO both a supplier partner and an indirect competitor for branded station business.

Regional players

• Center Oil Company: Center Oil is a Midwest regional fuel distributor delivering gasoline, diesel, and propane to commercial and retail customers. Both companies operate similar bulk fuel delivery models in overlapping Midwestern geographies with comparable customer segments.

Others

• Wawa (Wawa Inc.): Wawa is a Mid-Atlantic convenience store and fuel retailer. While not a direct fuel distributor competitor, Wawa overlaps with RKA in retail fuel/forecourt services and is a relevant benchmark for branded forecourt economics in regions near RKA's footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/rkaenergy
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCqb0bwN_TcnWQaTWR_XCF7g
• Facebookfacebook.com/rka-petroleum-companies-168327246649089
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rka-petroleum-companies
• Instagraminstagram.com/rkaenergy

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about RKA Petroleum Companies